Indian Railways has approved the construction of a 38.21 km new rail line between Mukutban in Adilabad and Gadchandur in South Central Railway at a cost of ₹493 crore. The project aims to strengthen regional rail connectivity and facilitate more efficient movement of passengers and freight, particularly serving the industrial and mining centers of Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts that host several cement plants and coal mines of Western Coalfields Ltd.
The new line will provide a shorter rail route that reduces travel distance, transportation time, and associated costs while decongesting the existing Wardha-Manikgarh section. According to the Detailed Project Report, the project is expected to support 6.08 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic comprising coal and coke, cement, sponge iron, metal scrap, iron & steel, fertilizers, and foodgrains. Additionally, it will facilitate two MEMU trains in each direction per day after commissioning.
The rail line will provide direct connectivity between the coal and cement cluster and the Majri-Nanded route, enabling shorter leads for coal, cement, and RMSP traffic toward Jalna, Parbhani, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and other destinations in Maharashtra and Karnataka. It will reduce dependence on the congested Balharshah-Nagpur High-Density Network route while improving rail connectivity to less-connected areas of Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts, thereby supporting industrial and economic development through enhanced rail infrastructure.